Hand propelling means for scooters



Oct. 7 I924. 1,51%,585

w. F. CUSHING, SR, ET AL HAND FROPELLING MEANS FOR SCOOTERS Filed Jan. 10 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 71 big.

Oct. 7 1924.

W. F. CUSHING, SR, ET AL HAND PROPELLING MEANS FOR SCOOTERS Filed Jan. 10. 1923 2 Sheets$hdet 2 gwumstoz Patented a. 7, 1924..

UNITED.

WILLIAM rEaRIs cUsHINe, sa," Ann 'rHoMAs AUSTIN BAILEY, or camrormm;

LOS ANeE Es,

*HAnD PROPELLING MEANS For SCOOTERS.

Application filed January 10, 1923. Serial No. 611,856.

To all whom it may concern:

l Be it known that WILLIAM FERRIS CUsH- 'ING, Sn, and THOMAS AUSTIN BAILEY, citizens of the United States, residing at Los -.Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand Propelling Means for Scooters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to childrens toys adapted to run along pavements of the streets in the manner o-f asledon ice or snow covered ground.

An object \of the invention is to-provide propelling means operated by a childs hands, this propelling means .at the same time furnishing steering and brake members for the scooter.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and Figure 1 is a top plan view'of the scooter; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section along line 22 of Figural;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the scooter;

peller;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section along line 55 of Figure 4:,

propeller, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section similar to Figure 2 of. a slightly modifiedbearing for the rollers.

The scooter consists of a board 10 which is made narrower at the front end, as indicated by the numeral 11, and wider at the rear end so as to provide a seat 12. Along the back portion and the two sides of the seat 1.2 is preferably furnished a back rest 13 rigidly secured around the edges of the seat 12. Upon the seatv and inside of the back rest 13 maybe provided a-cus'hion let,v as best seen in Figs. 1 and 2. .Near the for ward endll of the board 10 ,is rigidly secured across bar 15 forming a foot rest and extending a short distance beyond each side of the board' The foot rest may have rearward, projections 16" to prevent the childs' feet from slipping OK the same. On

: the under side of the seat 12 is secured a.

. bracket 17 carrying a-pair, ofcasters or Figure 11s a top plan view of the pro Figure 6 is a'bottom plan view of the -ward casters 18, while the opposite side and rear rollers are in alinement with each other. These rollers are positioned close together in order to make the running of the scooter easy and are preferably mounted 'on-a separate carrier 19 hinged on a spindle 20 supported in the bracket 17 with its axis in the longitudinal direction of the scooter and it will thus be evident that if the child leans over to one side of the scooter the board ,10 will easily tilt in that direction.

To prevent accidents and the complete turning over of the sco oter, a pair of small rollers orcasters 21 are secured under the board 10 and near the outer edges of the seat 12, as best shown in Figure, 3 of the drawings. These casters will not ordinarily touch the ground, but are arranged above the same as bestshown in Figure 2. It will now be evident that if the scooter is tilted over to one side it cannot be upset because the roller 21 von that side will hit the ground. In that case the scooter will proceed by rolling on one of the casters 21 and on all four of the rearward and forcaster 21 will be lifted from the ground.

The propellers, which are furnished in pairs for eachscooter, are intended to be grasped one ineach hand. Each of these propellers consists of a handle 22 provided with a smooth top face 23 and a preferably corrugated bottom face 2 1 in order to give a good hold for the hand. At each end of the handle is secured a metal band 25 by means of screws 26, as best seen in Figure 5. This band 25 is curved to form an arc-under the handle 22 and is made of elastic material in order to be aartially fiattened out while being. used. n the under side of this band 25 issecured, by rivets or screws 27, a heavy rubber shoe 28 which. is

so as not to touch the ground when the prb- (ill peller is in use. In order to give a good wear to the propeller, the shoe 28 is thickes't on the under side and preferably tapered toward each end, as at 30.

At the rear end of the propeller is secured a small roller 31 in a bracket 32 which may be held in position by the same means as used for attaching the band to this end of the handle 22. At the opposite or forward end of the handle is similarly secured, by the screws 26, a brake 33 which consists of a wooden block 3% and a surrounding strip of metal 35.

As clearly seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings the roller 31 and the brake 33 project beyond the ends of the propeller so as to come into contact with the ground respectively, when the propeller is stood on end. The band 25 and the shoe 28 are widened out in the middle along the transverse axis of the propeller, as seen in Figs. l and 6, so that-a wide tread is provided therefor. The shoe and the band may accordingly be about threeand one-half inches wide in the middle, tapering down to about one and a quarter inches at each end.

The scooter may be built of any material of sufficient strength, such as wood or iron, and the board 10 is preferably polished or varnished and may be made of various lengths for children of differentages. The seat may be plain or upholstered and the back rest, preferably of sheet metal, is made sufficiently high to form a brace for the childs back so that he can puta good force into his stroke. The small rollers 21 placed on the blocks on each side beneath the seat are raised about two inches and a half above the ground when the main rollers are resting thereon. Besides forming a safety device against tipping over, these small rollers are intended to eliminate friction as much as possible which would otherwise stop or slow up the scooter when the child leans to one side in turning a curve. lVith his feet on the footbrace at the forward end of the scooter and his back against the back rest, the child will be able to brace himself to exert a great deal of force when pushing the propellers against the ground.

The main rollers are of the same nature as casters on roller skates and such rollers may be used for the scooter although the size might not necessarily be the same.

The main purpose of this toy, consisting of a scooter and a pair of hand propellers, is to afford a growing child a novel and healthful method of self-propulsion. using this scooter and hand propellers will develop his arms, legs and back, in fact strengthening every muscle in his body in the same manner as rowing develops the en tire body of a person rowing a boat. This is thought to be an excellent outdoor exercisefor a growing child. The addition of two The child small anti-tilting rollers or casters makes not only for the safety of the device but also facilitates turning corners.

It is evident that hand propellers may be used not only in connection with the scooter but also in connection with childrens sleds or wagons. A child sitting on a low sled may thus be able to comfortably propel himself along the ground in the same manner as when ridingon thescooter. When riding on the scooter the child will use the same motions as a person rowing a boat. A sculler dips his oars behind him, pulling the boat forwards for each stroke. Similarly, the child holding a propeller in each hand with the brake 33 pointing forward and the roller 31 rearward, places the propellers on the ground, applying as much pressure as he desires. He then pulls backwards on the propellers, sending the scooter forward. When he desires to coast down a. hill, he raises the forward ends of the propellers until the rollers 31 touch the ground, in this manner balancing himself on the scooter, and when he decides to stop he tilt-s the propellers in opposite directions until the brakes 33 touch the ground and in this manner stops the scooter.

The modification shown in Figure 7 consists in mounting the carrier 19 for the rollers 18 with its spindle 20 inclined down wardly and in the direction of the center of the scooter. For this reason the bracket 37 is wedge-shaped with its heavier end positioned inwardly toward the center of the scooter. It will be evident that when the board 10 of the scooter is tilted to one side the axes of the front and rear rollers 18 will be slightly turned in a horizontal plane while all four rollers contact with the ground. In this manner the scooter will be made to easily turn around a corner in the same manner as the best designed roller skates.

Having thus described theinvention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Hand propelling means for scooters comprising a handle, a flexible shoe on said handle, and a coasting wheel mounted at one 7 end of the handle.

2. Hand. propelling means for scooters comprising a handle, a flexible shoe on said handle, and a brake b'lockinounted at one end of the handle,

3. Hand propelling means for scooters comprising a handle, a flexible shoe on said handle, a brake block mounted at one end ofthe handle, and a coasting wheel mounted at the opposite end thereof.

4:. Hand propelling means for scooters comprising a handle, a flexible shoe on said handle, a coasting wheel mountedat one end of the handle, said flexibleshoe including a metallic hand rigidly secured at'each end of the handle and forming sloop therewith,

and a solid rubber lining secured on the with, and a solid rubber lining secured on outer surface of said metallic band. the outer surface of said metallic band, said 10 5. Hand propelling means for scooters rubber lining being provided with ribs.

comprising a handle, a flexible shoe on said In testimony whereof We affix our signa- 5 handle, a coasting Wheel mounted at one tures.

end of the handle, said flexible shoe including a metallic band rigidly secured at each WILLIAM FERRIS N r- J end of the handle and forming a loop there- THOMAS AUSTIN B -1 

